Something which is bought; a purchase.
"The final item on her shopping list was the new camera, and she considered every last dollar of her hard-earned money before making the buy."
In plain English: In this rare case, a buy is an item that was purchased at a lower price than its usual value.
"The biggest buy this season is the new limited edition sneaker."
Usage: Do not use "buy" as a noun to mean a purchase; instead, use the word "purchase." The verb "buy" describes the act of acquiring something, while "purchase" serves as the correct noun for the item obtained.
make illegal payments to in exchange for favors or influence
"This judge can be bought"
acquire by trade or sacrifice or exchange
"She wanted to buy his love with her dedication to him and his work"
To obtain (something) in exchange for money or goods
"I need to buy some groceries at the market before it closes."
In plain English: To buy means to get something by giving someone money for it.
"I decided to buy a new coat for the winter."
Usage: Use "buy" to describe the act of acquiring an item by paying money or providing goods in return. Do not use it to mean purchasing someone's loyalty or affection, as those are metaphorical extensions rather than standard usage.
The word "buy" comes from Old English bycġan, which originally meant to acquire, pay for, or even ransom something. Its ultimate roots are uncertain, though it may have evolved from a Proto-Indo-European term meaning either "to bend" or "to take away."